Illegal immigrants can apply for delayed deportations this spring

The Obama administration will begin accepting applications this spring from illegal immigrants who are seeking deferred deportations under President Obama’s new executive action program, and those who qualify will be granted protections for three years, administration officials said.

[Read: Live updates on the immigration plan.]

The officials unveiled new details of Obama’s plans ahead of his prime-time address on Thursday evening as the White House sought to portray his actions as an effort to ensure that the U.S. immigration system focuses on deporting the highest-priority immigrants, such as felons, gang members and recent border-crossers.

Obama is expected to say he will stop deportations for a certain group of illegal immigrants: parents whose children are already U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. The protection would apply only to parents who have lived in the United States for five years or more.

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President Trump at Homeland Security for Swearing-In and Executive Orders. President Trump signed two executive orders on immigration including one that calls for the immediate construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.